What happens when organisations are encouraged to work together rather than compete against one another?
That was the question at the heart of LVET’s Health Inequalities VCFSE Grant Programme, an ambitious initiative designed to tackle some of Lincolnshire’s most persistent health challenges while testing a different way of funding community action.
Rather than asking organisations to compete for a share of funding, the programme encouraged them to collaborate, build partnerships and develop solutions together. The result was a county-wide effort that brought voluntary organisations, community groups and healthcare partners together around a common goal: reducing health inequalities and improving access to support for people who are often the hardest to reach, informed by local data.
The programme funded collaborative projects focused on improving digital inclusion, increasing uptake of vaccinations and health checks, strengthening community awareness of health services and helping people overcome barriers to accessing care.
What emerged was more than a successful grant programme.
It became a powerful demonstration of what can happen when communities are trusted to lead change.
A Different Way of Funding
Traditional grant funding can sometimes place organisations in competition with one another. This programme took a different approach.
Organisations were encouraged to build partnerships from the outset, developing ideas together and combining their strengths to address shared challenges. Collaboration days, live pitches and open conversations helped create relationships before funding was even allocated.
For many involved, this was one of the most valuable outcomes of the programme.
People spoke about the opportunity to connect with organisations they had never worked with before, learn from one another and develop ideas collectively. Rather than focusing solely on securing funding, organisations found themselves becoming part of a wider network committed to improving outcomes for local communities.
The approach helped create partnerships that continue today, long after funding decisions were made.
Demand That Exceeded Expectations
One of the clearest messages from the programme was the level of need that exists within communities across Lincolnshire.
Projects consistently exceeded their anticipated reach, engaging more people than expected and generating demand that continued throughout delivery.
In total, more than 1,400 people directly benefited from activities funded through the programme, with many thousands more reached through community networks, outreach activity, information sharing and local campaigns.
But behind every statistic was a person, a conversation or a moment of support that helped someone take a step towards improving their health and wellbeing.
Reaching People Where They Are
A recurring theme throughout the programme was the importance of meeting people where they already feel comfortable.
Support was delivered through community hubs, libraries, churches, local venues and trusted organisations embedded within their communities. These familiar settings made it easier for people to ask questions, seek support and engage with services they may otherwise have avoided.
For some, that accessibility was transformative.
As one participant explained:
“Thank you for coming somewhere I can actually get to.”
Another reflected:
“If this was further away, I wouldn’t have been able to come.”
These comments may seem simple, but they reveal something important. Access is not only about location. It’s about trust, confidence and familiarity.
The programme demonstrated that when support is delivered by organisations people already know and trust, engagement increases significantly.
Sometimes the Biggest Impact Was Unexpected
One of the most interesting outcomes was how often people came looking for one thing and left with something entirely different.
Someone attending a digital support session might leave knowing how to use the NHS App, with a vaccination appointment booked and a better understanding of local health services.
A resident visiting a community drop-in for technology support might discover they were eligible for a health check or receive help accessing healthcare they had previously struggled to navigate.
What began as one conversation frequently opened the door to wider support.
One participant described their experience:
“I feel capable to do something new. They checked if I was eligible for a flu vaccine, which I was. It was extra value to the service.”
Another said:
“I don’t normally bother with a flu vaccination, but they mentioned it to me and told me where local sessions were happening. They even went online and booked it for me.”
These seemingly small interventions created opportunities to improve health outcomes that may otherwise have been missed.
They also highlighted one of the unique strengths of community-based delivery: the ability to see the whole person, not just the issue they arrive with.
Real People, Real Change
Behind every project were stories of increased confidence, improved understanding and greater independence.
For one participant, attending community sessions helped unlock a completely new relationship with healthcare.
After learning how to use the NHS App, access services independently and navigate the health system with greater confidence, they reflected:
“I am now confident in using the NHS App, and I was able to contact my GP to arrange my annual health check. This has helped me become more independent and confident in managing my health.”
Others spoke about discovering services they had never previously known existed.
One participant explained:
“I learned about local community health clinics, mental health counselling services and preventive care resources that I was not previously aware of.”
Another described how attending a session changed the way they access healthcare:
“Tomorrow I will contact my closest pharmacy regarding a health problem. I didn’t know that I could go to a pharmacy and not straight to my GP.”
These stories reflect the programme’s wider impact. It wasn’t simply about delivering activities. It was about helping people build the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to take greater control of their own health.
The Power of Partnership
The programme demonstrated that collaboration can deliver outcomes that would be difficult for any single organisation to achieve alone.
Voluntary organisations worked alongside health partners, community leaders, libraries, digital inclusion specialists and local groups to provide support that was responsive, accessible and rooted in community needs.
Many of these organisations had never previously worked together.
By the end of the programme, new relationships had formed, expertise had been shared and pathways for future collaboration had been established.
Those partnerships became a significant part of the programme’s legacy.
As one delivery organisation reflected:
“We were able to partner with much bigger organisations for the good of our local community and provide outreach sessions that some people otherwise would not have been able to access.”
The programme showed that when organisations work together, their collective reach, influence and impact increase significantly.
More Than Health Outcomes
While the programme focused on health inequalities, its impact extended far beyond healthcare.
Projects strengthened community connections, reduced social isolation and created trusted spaces where people felt welcome, valued and supported.
One organisation reflected on what they were most proud of:
“We managed to create such a welcoming, trusted and safe space for people in the community. I did not imagine at the beginning that it would become such an important place for so many people.”
They continued:
“People stop us in town, hug us and say very kind words about the project and everything we do for the community.”
That response speaks volumes.
Health outcomes matter. Vaccinations matter. Health checks matter.
But so do trust, relationships and belonging.
Many participants gained not only information and support but also confidence, social connections and a greater sense of community.
LVET’s Role
Throughout the programme, LVET’s role was not to deliver services directly but to create the conditions that allowed others to succeed.
By bringing together voluntary organisations, communities and health partners, LVET helped facilitate collaboration, champion the role of the VCFSE sector and demonstrate the value of community-led approaches to tackling health inequalities.
The programme reinforced what many organisations across Lincolnshire already knew: community organisations are uniquely placed to reach people who traditional services often struggle to engage.
A Model for the Future
The Health Inequalities VCFSE Grant Programme demonstrated far more than the successful distribution of funding.
It showed that when organisations collaborate rather than compete, communities benefit.
It showed that trusted local organisations can engage people who might otherwise remain disconnected from support.
It showed that a conversation about a mobile phone can become a conversation about preventative healthcare. That a visit to a community hub can lead to greater confidence, better access to services and improved wellbeing.
Most importantly, it showed that tackling health inequalities is not simply about delivering services.
It is about building trust.
It is about creating relationships.
It is about helping people feel confident enough to take the next step.
For LVET, the programme stands as compelling evidence that when communities, voluntary organisations and health partners work together, they can create lasting change. Not just for individuals, but for Lincolnshire as a whole.
The programme evaluation was conducted by HWLincs and Every-One and can see their reports below for further information:
Subscribe to Our Newsletter Be the first in the know!
We promise to not use your email for spam and we will not sell it to third parties. We will not bother you with useless information, nor will we bombard you! By signing up for our newsletter you also agree to our Privacy Policy.
